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CTA bans violent game ads following GTA IV debacle

The Chicago Transit Authority, following the conclusion of a drawn-out law …

It's no great secret that violent video games are a target of lobbyists and politicians who are looking to make scapegoats out of video game publishers, who are apparently driving the unwashed masses to commit murder and car accidents. It appears that at least some of these crusaders are getting their way, as the Chicago Transit Authority has permanently banned violent video game advertising following the conclusion of legal proceedings over ads for Grand Theft Auto 4.

Prior to the release of Grand Theft Auto 4 in April, Take-Two and the CTA agreed to an advertising arrangement that would see ads for the company's racy, violent game on the city's buses and subway system. After the ads were up for a short time, the CTA decided to pull them in response to overblown media coverage that linked them to crime.

After the banning of the original Grand Theft Auto IV ads, Take-Two and the CTA engaged in a drawn-out series of court hearings, as Take-Two sued the organization for breaching the $300,000 advertising contract. Now, some six months after the original hubbub began, the CTA has conceded and the once-banned ads will now enjoy a six week stint on Chicago Transit properties. They'll run through to the end of the year, which Take-Two hopes will result in a slight holiday season sales boost.

"The CTA made the earlier decision to remove the ads from the system following some violence in the city," said CTA spokesperson Noelle Gaffney in explaning why the board decided to remove the ads. "The CTA felt that, based on the circumstances, it was in the best interest of our customers to remove the ads and further review the circumstances."

However, the temporary win for Take-Two has resulted in what could be considered an overall loss for any companies that publish M-rated games. Video game publishers will have to look elsewhere for advertising if they hope to reach the masses in the city of Chicago now as, following the CTA's concession, its board has voted in an outright ban on any advertising for violent games. The board cited a "'demonstrable correlation' between intensely violent video games and violent or aggressive behavior."

While that "demonstrable correlation" is certainly subject to debate, the CTA is moving ahead with the ban. This puts the CTA on the growing list of major U.S. transit authorities that have banned ads for M-rated games. There was no comment regarding whether ongoing campaigns, such as the one for Valve's recently-released M-rated titleLeft 4 Dead, will be affected by the decision.

Given that advertisements for R-rated movies frequently make their way onto the side of CTA vehicles and facilities, it seems that the somewhat controversial proposal that games make people more prone to violence is becoming accepted within the political sphere. It's creating a situation where selective censorship is a reality for game publishers.